By Madeline Bates
Mail

United 11, the union that represents Aramark, a food service company contracted through Arizona State University and other public entities, has voted to strike, potentially leaving thousands of students without meal service for the coming days.

United 11 represents over 32,000 workers employed in hotels, restaurants, arenas, airports, and college campuses for Southern California and Central Arizona.

Over 99% of the union members voted to strike on Nov. 17. 

Vanessa Martinez, a cook at Panda Express in the downtown Phoenix campus’s Gordon Commons dorm building, says that she has not only seen workplace sexual harassment but lived it, and wants to be treated better in the workplace.

“At the end of the day, we’re all human beings, and it wouldn’t hurt for management to be more understanding,” she said.

Martinez hopes to be a cook further in her career but has only been in her position for eight months and many other jobs require at least one year of experience.

Aramark staff are also subject to high prices for health insurance, with some paying over $200 a month for spouses or dependents. Martinez, who only pays for herself, pays $170 for health, vision and dental while making just over $20 an hour.

Aramark is a subcontractor for ASU and the previous contract for the group expired on Aug. 31, weeks after thousands of students moved into dorm halls and campus properties.

ASU reports an estimated 17,000 students who live in a campus dorm on all four properties — Tempe, downtown Phoenix, Polytechnic and West Valley — all required to have a meal plan through Aramark.

Each campus has several dining options, including Starbucks, fast food and cafeteria-style dining options. All facilities are staffed through Aramark.

ASU and Aramark have had an 18-year-long relationship and a 15-year-long agreement.

“Aramark and the union are actively negotiating and making progress toward a fair and mutually beneficial agreement for our employees, the union, the university, and our company. We remain confident that we will reach a resolution that supports all stakeholders,” said Aramark Communications Director Heather Dotchel via email.

Aramark employees who are frustrated with these terms can choose to go on strike for the remainder of the week while the contract terms are renegotiated.

Martinez says that Aramark employees also aren’t given subsidized parking, with some paying over $20 a day to park or spending hours on public transportation to get to and from their jobs.

“Today’s overwhelming strike vote makes one thing clear: these workers are done being pushed to the breaking point,” said Beatriz Topete, Organizing Director for Unite Here Local 11 in a statement.

ASU will play the University of Arizona in football next week, with an expected surge of campus customers. Martinez says that some workers are also scheduled to work the Thanksgiving holiday to serve students who live on campus.

Madeline Bates
Reporter | Tempe/East Phoenix

mbates@iniusa.org

Meet Madeline

Madeline Bates joined Independent Newsmedia in 2025 as a Phoenix/Tempe reporter. Before graduating college, she spent a semester in Washington as a Congressional reporter in the first 100 days of the second Trump administration. But local news is where her heart is. She is excited to be in Phoenix full time and exploring new parts of the city (as long as they have AC).  

Community: After living in East Phoenix for two years, she fell in love with Paradise Valley, Mesa, Tempe, and everywhere in between. She recently discovered the beauty of the South Mountain Reserve and hopes to continue exploring should the weather comply.

Education: Madeline has a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and a certificate in Political History and Leadership.

Random Fact: She is a self-taught nail tech. No, she cannot do your nails.

Hobbies: Hiking (when its not 100 degrees), fiction writing, cooking, baking and trying new coffee shops.